Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Microsoft against Open Source (again?)

Microsoft is crying foul about Open Source software again, claiming that OSS violates 253 Microsoft patents. Whether this is true or not is an open question. I'm not sure how I feel about it if it is true. It smells too much like the SCO lawsuit against IBM that's been simmering for a few years.

I don't think Microsoft needs to do this. I have a feeling that many at Microsoft don't want to do this and that this campaign is being pushed by the lawyers not the techies. Microsoft makes plenty of good software, but also has plenty of buggy software, and does well in commercial and personal settings. Much like Open Source has good software, buggy software, and does well in commercial and personal settings (it's in more places that you may realize). Sounds like a good competition to me.

In any case, Jim Rapoza has an interesting take about Microsoft's tactic over on eWeek's site.